Wiccans and 10 Commandments? (virgin, virtual, followers, America, mission)

[DianeVera]

As noted in a post here, the Agape Press site has quite a bit of typical unsurprising fundy Christian tripe about Wicca/Witchcraft/Paganism. But it also has a couple of news articles that surprised me, including this one:

* Wiccans Support Ten Commandments

I would appreciate comments by any politically informed Wiccans and other Pagans here. First of all, is the above news story true, to the best of your knowledge?

[Feathers in Hair]

Hmm... Good question! Looking at the article, I'm quite suprised that any group calling itself pagan or Wiccan would support such a thing.

From the article...

Clay County, West Virginia - In a strange twist on the most recent Ten Commandments display case, the “Widen’s Own Wiccans,” the local witches group in Clay County, West Virginia, announced that they support the display in the county courthouse and oppose the ACLU’s threat of a lawsuit. The American Family Association Center for Law & Policy (CLP), which is defending the County, has stated that they believe the display meets constitutional requirements. The display consists of a framed plaque of the Ten Commandments and a copy of the U.S. Constitution on one side and the Declaration of Independence on the other.

According to a press release issued by the Wiccans, they believe Clay County “is being bullied by the ACLU,” and that the Ten Commandments “are, and have always been, an integral part of Clay’s unique, one-of-a-kind culture.” The Wiccans pledged to support the Clay County Commission “in its quest to maintain our Christian/Appalachian heritage and Culture.” The press release concluded: “We want the ’10 Commands’ to STAY ON THE WALL.”

Stephen Crampton, Chief Counsel for the CLP, said, “While we were surprised by the public comments of the Wiccans, we appreciate their recognition of the contribution of the Ten Commandments to the culture of Clay County. It is a shame that virtually everyone but the ACLU acknowledges the integral role of the Ten Commandments both in Clay County and in our nation.”



The Center for Law & Policy is a division of the American Family Association, Inc. The CLP restricts its practice to constitutional litigation in state and federal courts.

I myself don't support the posting of any religious symbols unless they have all religious symbols, and it's clear that that's probably not what the article is suggesting.

The only article I found on these people was about a news report for Clay County...

eb. 11 pm In the latest edition of the Communicator we reported the potty mouth from Mr. Jarrett during the end of the Business Development Authority meeting Feb. 6th. Since Commissioner Sams had just left the building, we thought Jarrett was talking about Sams. WRONG! According to Mr. Jarrett, he was talking about local attorney Kevin Duffy and a messy affair with the Widen Wiccans who had rented space at Jarrett's historic Henry Clay Hotel. When the Wiccans left, they left behind a lard bucket full of peee and an unpaid Hotel bill. Jarrett is mad at Duffy over the affair.

And, naturally, that's only heresay, but it's intruiging that this group is only known for this other incident. I also saw that they don't appear to have a listing on Witchvox (here's the search where it should should up). Either they're not very well organized, or they don't exist.

Personally, though, I think the majority of Wiccans and pagans would be appalled at this. But I suppose there are people of all religions that do things that alienate the rest of its followers.

[linwood]

Oh there`s a bit more about Clay County Wiccans in the news.
It is not relevant to this thread but when I read it I vaguely remembered something about children being taken away from Wiccan parents in Clay County.


On one occasion, DHHR officials and a State Police trooper were called to investigate an allegation that the couple had killed their youngest child in a sacrifice and were carrying the boy’s body with them. A later DHHR visit came from another false report that the couple’s children had been sacrificed. An emergency DHHR petition was filed and the couple’s children were taken away, causing Albright to be hospitalized in October 2003, according to the lawsuit.

http://atheism.about.com/b/a/102734.htm

Lovely that is.

[Majikthise]

That is some sick s.

[Feathers in Hair]

They had their children taken away for six months?!

Ugh. Just ugh.

It sounds like that county has some serious issues with the religion, and it makes it appear even more like someone is using their name to pretend to be a religious group that supports the Ten Commandments being posted. I think on Monday, I'm going to be doing some researching, and seeing if I can contact anyone that purpotes to be from the group. I'm not Miss Contact-try-to contact -people, usually, but I really don't like this.

[Draka]

Sounds to me that they are scapegoats normally and used to benefit when needed. Probably is a made up group.